Bottle neck and stopper.



PATENTED APR. 3, 1906.

S. D. RODGERS. BOTTLE NECK AND STOPPEB..

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1905.

`'NTTED STATES PATENT OEEEOE.

BOTTLE NECK AND STOPPER.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 1906.

Application filed February 6, 1905. Serial No. 244,370.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN D. RoDGERs, a citizen of the United States,residing .at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Bottle Necks and Stoppers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to bottle necks and Stoppers, and it consists ofthe novel construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

As will be seen by reference to the drawings, the improvements instoppers which I have invented are intended to be used in conjunctionwith certain improvements or features of construction in the necks ofthe bottles or other receptacles adapted to receive the aforementionedStoppers, which Stoppers embody or contain the improvements which I haveinvented. The aforesaid improvements in the necks of bottles orreceptacles will form the subject-matter of a future application forLetters Patent which I intend to make.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical crosssection of the neck of abottle or other receptacle with the aforesaid stopper shown in nalposition in the neck. This section is taken on the line O D, Fig. 2.Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section taken on the line A B of Fig. 1 andlooking downward.

My invention is particularly intended to provide a stopper which whenused to seal a bottle or other receptacle containing liquid matter orsolid matter in the form of lumps, grains, or powder will permit theremoval of the contents of the bottle, but will make it difficult, ifnot impossible, to refill the aforesaid bottle with liquid or solidmatter.

The essential features of my new stopper, the use of which would tend toprevent the refilling of the aforesaid bottles or receptacles, are asfollows: The circular central passagetube 1 is formed with a stempassing through the stopper 15. A valve-chamber 3 contains a ball orvalve 4, which acts as a valve therein to prevent the introduction intothe bottle or receptacle of any liquid or solid when the bottle is in anapproximately vertical position. A lip or flange 5 of sufficient widthto completely cover the orifice or mouth of the bottle or receptacle ison the upper end of the tube 1, and a neck or mouth 6, preferably madeno larger (in diameter) thanwill be necessary for the proper egressofthe contents of the bottle or receptacle, is clamped around the flange5, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. neck or mouth 6 is provided with aremovable seal of any kind, such as a cork or plug or screw-cap 7 or anyother convenient removable seal. The walls of the valve-chamber 3 aresloped or curved downwardly from the sides to the opening in the bottomof said chamber into the tube 1 in such a manner that the ball 4 willnot roll away from or uncover said opening until the bottle orreceptacle has been inclined or tipped to a position approximatelyhorizontal. The passage-tube 1 contains, immediately over the ball orvalve 4, a perforated grating or netting 8 of stiff wire or othermaterial. The apertures in this grating or netting are large enough topermit the free egress of the contents of the bottle, but not largeenough to permit the use of a rod, wire, or instrument to be used inholding the ball or valve away from the opening in the bottom of thevalveechamber 3 for the introduction of any liquid or other matter intothe body of the bottle or receptacle without extreme difficulty. Thisgrating 8 is secured immediately above the chamber 3 by being clampedbetween the iiange 5 and the binding portion of the mouthpiece 6. Theheight of this grating 8 above the ball or valve 4 is to be sufficientto allow the free movement of the said ball or valve 4 when thereceptacle or bottle is tipped or inclined to a position approximatelyhorizontal.

The springs 9 are fastened to the outer side or wall 0f the tube 1 byany suitable means, as by pins or rivets, in such a manner that thetension of the springs will tend to spread or force their ends againstthe inner side or wall of the neck of the bottle or receptacle. Thecentral passage-tube 1 is inserted through a suitable hole in thestopper 15. The stopper 15 is prevented from sliding on the passage-tube6 by means of the washers 16 and 17, secured on the tube 1 above andbelow the stopper.

The neck 18 of the bottle or other receptacle is formed with aninwardly-projecting circular flange 19 which engages the ends of thesprings 9 when my improved stopper is pushed into its inal position inthe neck of the bottle or receptacle, as shown in Fig. 1. The innersurface or wall of the neck 18 tapers or becomes narrower from theflange 19 downwardly toward the body (not shown) of the bottle orreceptacle, as indicated at 20, so that t-he lower end or part of thestopper 15 This IOO

IOS

will be compressed more than the upper end or part thereof, thusimparting to the stopper 15 as a whole a tendency to spring back out ofthe neck 18 of the bottle or receptacle. This will cause the ends of thesprings 9 to press firmly against the lower surface of the flange 19.This wedgin of the lower end of part of the stopper 15 wi l also producea sufficient seal between the surface of the stopper 15 and the neck 18of the bottle or receptacle and between the surface of the stopper andthe central passage-tube 1 to prevent any leakage of the contents of thebottle or receptacle between the surface of the stopper 15 and thesurfaces of the neck 18 or of the central passage-tube 1.

After the various parts have been provided the operation of assemblingis as follows: The springs 9 are fastened to the lower part or stem ofthe central passage-tube 1, the ball or valve 4 is placed in position inthe valve-chamber 3, the circular perforated grating or piece of netting8 is placed in position on top of the flange 5, and the mouthpiece 6 isthen placed over the grating and crimped or bent down over the underpart of the flange 5, so as to clamp or fasten the grating 8 between theparts 5 and 6. The upper washer 16 is then slipped on over the tubularstem 1 as far as the ends of the springs 9, which act as shoulders toprevent the further passage of the washer. The tubular stem 1 is thenforced through the circular hole in the stopper 15 until the stopperreaches the washer 16. The lower washer 17 is then slipped on the stem1, and the bottom of the stern 1 is then expanded or burred over thewasher 17, thus holding the stopper 15 securely in position.

In practice the bottle or receptacle is filled to a point about one-halfinch below the point where the bottom of my improved stopper will cornewhen placed in final position. The stopper is then forced downwardlyinto the neck 18 of the bottle or receptacle. In passing through theneck the springs 9 will be compressed inwardly toward the wall of thevalve-chamber 3 while the springs are in contact with the upper innerwall of the flange 19 and will expand or spring back again to theposition shown in Fig. 1 beneath the flange 19. The elastic circularwasher 21 is placed between the flange 5 and the top of the neck 18 ofthe bottle or receptacle to insure a tight seal.

Having thus shown and described my invention, what l claim, and desireto secure by Letter Patent, is as follows:

1. ln a bottle or receptacle, the combination with the neck having aninternal flange, of a tube within the neck, springs fastened to the tubeto abut against the flange, a perforated netting at the outer end of thetube, a device to secure the netting in position, a valve to control thepassage through the tube, washers on the inner end of the tube, and anelastic stopper on the tube between the washers, substantially asspecified.

2. In a bottle or receptacle, the combination with the neck having aninternal flange, of a tube within the neck, springs fastened to the tubeto abut against the flange, a perfo rated netting at the outer end ofthe tube, and a mouthpiece clamped onto the outer end of the tubeoutside the neck of the receptacle, substantially as specified.

8. ln a bottle` or receptacle, the combination with the neck having aninternal flange, of a tube within the neck, springs fastened to the tubeto abut against the flange, a 1nouthpiece clamped onto the outer end ofthe tube outside the neck of the bottle, a perforated netting betweenthe mouthpiece and the tube, and a valve within the tube adjacent to theperforated netting, substantially as specified.

4. In a bottle or receptacle, the combination with the neck having aninternal flange, of a tube within the neck, springs fastened to the tubeto abut against the flange, a ball located within the outer end of thetube, a perforated netting against the outer end of the tube to hold theball in the tube, a mouthpiece clamped upon the outer end of the tubeand the netting, and an elastic stopper fastened to the inner end of thetube, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed rny name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN D. RODGERS.

Witnesses STEVE QUINN, FRED. W. DUENOKEL.

